Paper-feeding mechanism



W. M. KELLY.

PAPER FEEDINGMEbHANISM. APPHCATION FILED APR. 0| I920.

1,424,91 6. Patentemg. s, 1922.

4 SHEETSSHEET I.

\i W 3mm L W W. M. KELLY.

PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, 1920.

1,424,916,, Patented Aug. 8, 1922.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

W. M. KELLY.

PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLiCATION FILED APR, 0, 1920.

Patented Aug. 8, 1922.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

' W. M. KELLY.

PAPER FEEDlNG MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR.10,1920.

arre are r'r 'ri.

WILLIAM M. KELLY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY;

PAPER-FEEDING MECHANISM.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Original application filed October 13, ,1916, Serial No. 125,429. Divided and this application filed April 10, 1920. Serial No. 372,816.

2 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. KELLr,

its vertical movements. Vertically ar ranged screws 16 and 17 are supported in a citizen of the United States, and residentsuitable bearings 18 and 19, respectively, on

of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper- Feeding Mechanism, of which the followin is a specification.

This application is a division of my application 125,429 filed October 13, 1916.

The present invention relates to sheet feeding mechanism and the objects are to provide means for elevating the pile of sheets; to furnish mechanism for controlling the action of the pile elevating means whereby the height of the pile controls said elevating means; to arrange the parts so that the mechanismv for elevating the pile of sheets is not and cannot be operative while a sheet is being withdrawn by the pneumatic means; to provide means for elevating the pile which may be easily rendered inoperative so that the pile of sheets may be adjusted manually, and to provide a novel form of fingers to guide the pile of sheets.

These and other features of the invention including certain details of construction and combination of parts will be set forth in the following description and pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the feeding mechanism showing the table, the screws for elevating the same, the suction wheels etc.'

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Figure 1;

Figures 3 and. 4 are detail views showing the relation between the perforations in the suction wheels, the crank pin and the ratchet feed device.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the parts shown in Figures 1 and 2: and

Figure 6 is a view partly in plan partly in section showing the half nuts which cooperate with the feed screws, and the links for operating them.

. Referring to the drawings, 10 ('Fig. 2) indicates a frame of any suitable construction which, it will be understood, will be secured on the frame of the printing press or other machine with which the feeding mechanism cooperates. A feed table 11 for the pile of sheets A has secured on the ends thereof brackets 12 and 13 which cooperate with suitable guides 14 and 15 on the frame of the machine for guiding the table 11 in the frame of the machine and pro ect through the brackets 12 and 13, as most clearly shown in Figure 1. The screws 16 and 17 do not have threaded connection with the brackets 12 and 13, but have cooperating therewith the half nuts 20 and 21 which are pivoted at 20 and 21- to the brackets 12 and- 13, respectively, and adapted to swing horizontally thereon. The nuts 20 and 21 are threaded to correspond to the screws 16 and 1'7 and when in engagement with the screws and 21 to be readily meshed with the screws at any point along the latter.

A handle 22 is pivoted at 23 to the under side of the table 11 and the links 24 and 25 connect the handle 22 with the nuts 20 and 21, respectively. The links 24 and 25 are pivoted to the handle 22 at the points 26 and 27 on the opposite sides of the. pivot 23 so that when the handle 22 is swung on the pivot 23 the nuts 20 and 21 may be simultaneously thrown into and out of engage- .ment with their cooperating screws. As the parts are illustrated in Figures 1 and 6 the nuts 20 and 21 mesh with the screws and by swinging the handle 22 through an arc of about 90 degrees the nuts may be disengaged from the screws and the table 11 freely moved up and down along the guides 14 and15. When the handle is swung to the position shown in Fig. 6, the pivot points 26, 23 and 27 are so nearly in line that the half nuts are locked in engagement with the screws. In other words, after the handle has moved the nuts into engagement with the screws, the arrangement is such thatthe nuts are locked against displacement.

A horizontal shaft 28 is suitably supported in bearings 29 and 30 and is preferably arranged in alignment with the screws 16 and 17 and operatively connected with the latter by the pairs ofbevel gears 31 and 32.

I This construction permits both sides of the table 11 to be raised and lowered uniformly bv rotating the shaft 28.

A shaft 33 issupported in bearings 34 and 35 on the frame of the machine and has.

frame of the machine. Arranged below the shaft 38 is a feed shaft 41, (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) supported in bearings 'on the frame of the machine and having secured thereon a 'bevel gear 42 which meshes with a bevel gear 43 on the vertical drive shaft 44. The shaft 44 is driven from any .suitable part of the printing press or other machine with which the feeding mechanism is associated. The pinion 36" meshes with a gear 47 and the gear 47 meshes with and is driven by a gear 49 (Fig. 1) on the shaft 41.

The shaft 33 carries, approximately at the middle thereof, two wheels 50 and 51, these wheel having opposed axially extending, peripheral flanges 52, these flanges each having a series of radial perforations 53, seen most clearly in Figures 3 and 4. A suction nozzle 54 is supported on the tube 55 and projects between the wheels 50 and 51 and is provided between the wheels with lateral extensions 56 (Fig. 5) which fit the inner sides of the flanges 52 and have mouths 57 with which the perforations 53 are adapted to register as the wheels 50 and 51 rotate. The nozzle member 54 has a port 58 in theupper side thereof with which a valve 50 cooperates. The valve 59 is secured on a rock shaft 60 (Fig.5) which is mounted in bearings 61 and .62. The shaft 60 carries an arm 63 on which a cam roller 64 is rotatably mounted, this cam roller cooperating with the cam 65 on the shaft 33. These parts are clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4 and from these figures it will be evident that therotation of the cam 65 wheels 50 and 51 so as to cause this sheet to be carried forward with the wheels as the latter rotate. This action occurs if the valve 59 is closed, but when the valve 59 is opened the vacuum in the lower partof the nozzle 54 will be broken by the in-rush I of air through the port 58 and therefore there will be practically no tendency to suck the top sheet against the wheels 50"and 51. Under these conditions there will be no feeding of the sheets from thetop of the pile. he cam 65 normally effects the opening and closing of the valve 59 at regular intervals and this is so timed that the valve 59 will be opened before the rear edge of the sheet reaches a point directly below the openings 53 which register with the mouth 57. It will be noted that the openlngs 53are provided only in a portion of the flanges 52 so that when the blank portions of these flanges register with the mouths 57 of the nozzle member there can be no tendency to draw the top sheet of the pile against the wheels' 50 and 51. When the wheels have rotated sufliciently to bring the first of the series of openings 53 into registration with the mouths 57 the top sheet of the pile will be picked up and carried forward by the wheels, the suction in the nozzle being broken after the front edge of the sheet has passed between the feed tape 66 and the pressure wheels 67,

having the next succeeding sheet drawn against the wheels 50 and 51, as soon as the rear edge of the first sheet has passedthe mouth 57 of the nozzle. This opening of the valve 59 is effected automatically by the cam 65 and the time of closing this valve is also determined by the cam 65. From this it will be seen that the time of picking up the top sheet of the pile and forwarding the same may be varied, with reference to the other parts of the mechanism either by changes in the shape of the cam 65 or in the angular position of the cam on the shaft 33.

A suction pipe 72 connects with the pipe 55 and in order to regulate the suction in the latter a valve 73 may be provided, this valve admitting air to the pipe 72 in varying amounts in accordance with the degree of opening of the valve.

In order to guide the top sheets of the pile and prevent their being displaced there is provided at the back corners of the pile guiding fingers 86, 87 88 and 89. The fingers 86 and 87 are pivoted on a block 90 which is.

slidable on the bracket 91 and clamped to the latter by means of the screw 92. The fingers 88 and 89 are pivoted on the block 93 which is slidable on the bracket 94 and clamped to the latter by means of the screw 95. F romFig. 5 it will be evident that the fingers 86 and 87 swing in right angularly arranged'planes and are adapted to receive the corner of the pile between them. In a similar manner, the fingers 88 and 89 swing in right angularly arranged planes and are adapted to receive the opposite corner of the as. the feed board 11 is elevated it will engage with the lower ends of the guide'fingers and, in order that the fingers may not interfere wit-h the movements of the table, they have their lower ends curved in such manner that the engagement of the table therewith will result in swinging the fingers upwardly. The bars 91 and 94 are secured to the blocks 96 and 97, respectively, these blocks being carried by the supporting bar 98 and adjustable transversely of the machine thereon, clamping screws 99 beingprovided on the blocks 96 and97 for the pur pose of securing them on the bar 98.

By having the blocks 90 and 93 adjustable In order'to automatically elevate the table 11 as the sheets are removed from the top of thepile and to maintain the top of the pile at a substantially uniform distance from the wheels 50 and 51, within definite limits, there is secured on the shaft 28 a ratchet wheel 238. Besides the ratchet wheel there is journaled on the shaft 28 an elbow lever 239, one arm of which carries a dog 240, this dog cooperating with the ratchet wheel 238 to rotate the shaft 28 when the lever 239 is oscillated. A rod 241 is pivotally connected at 242 to the other arm of the lever 239 and the upper end of this rod has a slot 243 for the crank pin 244 on the disk 245, this disk being secured on the end of the shaft 33. The slot 243 is of sufficient length to permit the crank pin 244 to revolve without giving longitudinal movement to the rod 241 except at the upper part of its rotation. The parts are designed so that the pin 244 lifts the lever 239 on each stroke enough to just disengage arm 246 from detent 247, so that the detent may be swung by the connecting levers as the pile is lowered by the removal of the sheets, without having to overcome the friction of the detent rubbing on the arm 246. Under normal conditions the rod 241 and the lever 239 are substantially motionless. The weight of the rod 241 and the lever 239 normally tends to swing the lever to the right in Figure 2 so as to carry the dog 240 backward over the ratchet wheel 238. In order to normally hold the rod 241 in the position'shown in Figure 2 the lever 239 has an arm' 246 with which a detent 247 cooperates. This detent is pivoted at 248 on a bracket 249 and has pivotally connected with its upper end an arm 250 on the shaft 251. This shaft is journaled on the brackets 252 and 253 and carries an arm 254 that is secured to the shaft by a clamping screw 255 and may be'adjustedlongitudinally ofv the shaft as desired. The free end of the arm 254 carries an adjustable finger 256 which is secured by means of a clamping screw 257. The finger 256 engages the to sheet of the p1le substantially at the middl e of the sheet and in line with the space between the wheels 50 and 51. The adjustment of the arm 254 along the shaft 251 provides for sheets of different lengths and the arrangement pf the arm 254 transversely of the machine provides for a uniform action of the parts for all sizes of sheets. I

The operation of the table mechanism is as follows:

The detent 247 normally holds the rod 241 in the position shown in Figure 2 and the pin 244 revolves and slightly rocks the lever 239 at each rotation as described above. -As the sheets are withdrawn from the top of the pile the arm 254 gradually drops to maintain the finger 256 in engagement with the top sheet and the arm 250 will, in consequence have its lower end swung away from the machine so as to rock the detent 247 on its pivot248 until the detent becomes disengaged from the arm 246. The lever 239 and rod 241 will then drop and the succeeding revolution of the pin 244 will lift these parts and thus the ratchet wheel 238 will be carried forward by the dog 240, the shaft 28 being thereby rotated and through the actuation of the screws 16 and 17 the table 11 elevated and the detent 247 restored to its original position. The parts will then remain in this position until a sufiicient number of sheets have been withdrawn to cause the detent 247 to be again disengaged from the arm 246 when the operation will be repeated.

An examination of Figures 3 and 4 will disclose that the crank pin 244 is located angularly a few degrees from the nearest perforations 53 in the rim of the wheels 50 and 51. As the direction of rotation of the parts is as indicated by the arrows, the crank pin 244, therefore lags behind the perforations 53. This angular relation is a very important feature, because it. makes it impossible to elevate the feed table with its pile of sheets while the suction means is operative to withdraw a sheet from the top of the pile.

As shown in Figure 3,-the sheet is being fed forward by the suction acting through the perforations 53, and the crank pin is rotating clockwise and consequently the dog or pawl 240 is moving backward over the ratchet wheel. In Figure 4 the sheet has been taken between the feed rolls 67 and tapes 66 and has left the wheels 50, 51, the valve 59 being about to be opened by cam 65 and arm 63 to thereby relieve the suction. It will be noted that the crank pin 244' is at the lowest point of its rota tion, and as it continues to rotate will pull the rod 241 upward, thereby rotating the angle lever 239 and moving the pawl 240 in a direction to rotatethe ratchet wheel, when it engages a tooth on the same, it being obvious that the pawl is just beginning its feeding stroke and has its full travel to make; Hence, with the relation of the parts as shown and described, the pile of sheets will not be elevated'when a sheet is being started to the machine, by the suction apparatus.

The suction produced through the aper tures 53 must be regulated to meet the conditions of size and weight of the sheets be-' ing used. After. the mechanism is properly adjusted for a given kind ofsheets anything which retards the forward movementof the sheet will interfere with the successful operation of the suction feed. If the pile of sheets is elevated while a sheet is being started ofi the ile by the suction means, the friction on t e sheet, produced by the upward pressure of the pile against the height gauge, so retards the, sheet as to throw it out of its position, if indeed the 30 sheet is not entirely held from movement.

The'upward movement of the pile pushes the height gauge upward, which motion is communicated to the detent 247,'pressing the lower end of the same against the arm' I '246 until the arm catches in'the notch in the end of the detent. It is obvious that thus there may be produced sufficient pressure between the height gauge and the top sheet to prevent the withdrawal of the same by- 40 the suction means. This dilficulty is obviated by constructing the machine so that thepile elevating-mechanism is not actuated while the suction feeding means is operable on a sheet.

Although an embodiment of the invention has been described in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not thus limited, but includes modifications and changes coming within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a sheet feeding mechanism, a vertically movable table for sup-porting and elevating a pile of sheets comprising vertically arranged screws at the sides of said'table for moving the latter, nuts pivoted to the table and adapted to swing into and out of engagement with said screws, a handle pivoted on said table, and links connecting said handle with said nuts arranged to lock the nuts in engagement with the screws when the handle is in an extreme position.

.2. In a. machine of the class described,

the combination of a table for the pile of sheets, a bracket, and a pair-of pile guides adapted to engage adjacent sides of the pile pivoted on .said bracket and adapted to be swung to a position above the pile.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a table for the pile of sheets, a bracket, and a pair of pile guides adapted to engage adjacent sides of the pile movably secured onsaid bracket and adapted to be engaged by said table and automatically shifted so as not to interfere with the adjustment of the table.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a vertically adjustable table for the pile of sheets, a bracket arranged over said table, a pair of pile guides pivoted to said bracket and adapted to swing in right-angularly arranged planes, and means for normally holding said guides in inclined position.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a vertically movable table for apile of sheets, a bracket, rightangularlyarranged pivots on said bracket, and pile 'guides'on said pivots adapted to be engaged by said table and swung upwardly thereby.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a vertically movable table for a pile, of sheets, a pair of horizontally adjustable brackets arranged above said table, and a pair of pile guides carried b each of said brackets disposed to engage a jacent sides of the pile, said guides bein adapted to be engaged by said table an moved thereby.

7 In a machine of the class described, the combination of a vertically movable table for a pile of sheets, a pair of horizontally adjustable brackets, members slidable on said brackets to different positions over said table, and one or more pile guides carried by said members and adapted to be engage by said table and moved thereby.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a vertically movable table for the pile of sheets, a pair'of horizontally adjustable brackets arranged above said table, members carried by said brackets and adjustable to different positions therealong, and pile guides pivoted to said members and adapted to be en aged by said table and swung upwardly t ereby so as not to interfere with the adjustment of the table.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a vertically movable table for the pile of sheets, a pair of horiznotally adjustable brackets arranged over said table, members carried by said brackets and adjustable therealong, a pair of pile guides pivoted on each of said members and adapted to swing in right angularly arranged planes, and means for normally holding said 1 guides in inclined position, said guides having their lower ends suitably formed to per- 180 maaeie mit said table to swing the guides upwardly to accommodate the movementof the table. 10. In a machineof the class described, the combination ,of a verticall adjustable table for the pile of sheets, an mechanism for automatically, raising said table, and including a shaft arranged longitudinally of the machine above the-table, an arm secured to said shaft and adjustable therealong, and an adjustable member carried by said arm and adapted to engage the pile at difi'erent points along the longitudinal center thereof.

11. A sheet feeding mechanism comprising means for supporting a pile of sheets, means for periodically. withdrawing a sheet from the top of the pile, means for elevating said supporting means including a feeler continuously resting on the top of the pile, and said elevating means and withdrawing means being so timed that the elevating means is inactive when the withdrawing means is operative.

12. A sheet feeding mechanism comprising means for withdrawing a sheet from the top of a pile and means for elevating the pile, including a feeler continuously resting on the top of the pile, said elevating means and withdrawing means being so timed that the elevating means is inactive when the withdrawing means is operative.

13. In a sheet feeding mechanism com-- prising pneumatic means for withdrawing aor sheet from the top of a pile and means elevating the pile, including a feeler continuously resting on the top of the pile, said elevating means and withdrawing means being so timed that the elevating means isinactive when the pneumatic means is operative.

14. In a sheet feeding mechanism, means for supporting a pile of sheets, means for elevating said supporting means, means for withdrawing a sheet from the top of the pile, means continuously contacting with the top of the pile for controlling the operation of the elevating means and said elevating and withdrawing means being so timed that the elevating means is inactive when the withdrawing means is operative. 15. In a sheet feeding mechanism, means for supporting a pile of sheets, means for elevating said supporting means, pneumatic means for withdrawing a sheet from the top of the pile, means continuously contacting with the top of the pile for controlling the operation of the elevating means and said elevating and withdrawing means being so timed that the elevating means is inactive when the withdrawing means is operative.

16. In a sheet feeding mechanism, means for elevatin a pile of sheets, pneumatic means for withdrawing sheets from the top of the pile, and means continuously resting on the top of the pile for controlling the operation of the elevating means, said elevatin and withdrawing means being 55 time that the elevating means is inactive when the pneumatic withdrawing means is operative.

17. In a sheet feeding mechanism, a rotatably mounted wheel having a peripheral flange a portion of which is formed with per orations, means for periodically creating a' suction through said perforations ,to withdraw a sheet from the top of a ile, means for elevating said pile controlled by the height of the pile including a crank pin angularly spaced in rear of said perforations.

18. In a sheet feeding mechanism, a rotatably mounted shaft, a wheel mounted on said shaft and having an axially extendingflange formed with a series of perforations extending around a portion only of the periphery of said wheel, means for peri' odically creating a suction through said perforations to withdraw a sheet from a pile, means for elevating said pile controlled by the height of the 1le including a crank pin rotating with t e? shaft and angularly spaced rearwardl of the said perforations.

19. In a sheet ceding mechanism, suction means for withdrawing a sheet from the top of a pile, a valve for controlling said sue-- tion means, a feeler continuously resting on the top of the pile, a rotatably mounted cam for actuating said valve, a crank-pin mounted to rotate with said cam, means for elevating the pile actuated by the crank pin constructed and arranged so that the suction means is inactive when the crank pin is operative to elevate the pile.

'20. In a sheet feeding mechanism, means for supporting a pile of sheets, pneumatic means for withdrawing a sheet from the top of the pile, a valve for. controlling said pneumatic means, a rotatably mounted member for actuating said valve, a crank pin mounted to rotate with said member, means for elevating the supporting means actuated by the crank pin and including a lost motion connection between the crank pin and the supporting means, said valve being opened to the atmosphere when the elevating. means is operative.

21. In a sheet feeding mechanism, means for supporting a pile of sheets, a feeler continuously resting on the top of the pile, pneumatic means for withdrawing a sheet from the top of the pile, a valve for controlling said pneumatic means, a rotatably mounted for actuating said valve, a crank pin mounted to rotate with said member, means for elevating the supporting means actuated by the crank pin and including a lost motion connection between the crank pin and the supporting means and said member and crank pin arranged so that said elevating means is inoperative when the pneumatic means is effective.

22. In a sheet feedin mechanism, a table for supporting a pile 0 sheets, a feeler continuously resting on the top of the pile, means for withdrawing a sheet from the to of the pile, a rotatable member for contro ling saidwithdrawing means, and 10st motion mechanism interposed between said member and the table to elevate the latter constructed and arran ed so that the with- 10 drawing means is ine ective When the said mechanism is operative to elevate the table.

23. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a table for the pile of sheets, a support and a pair of guide fingers adapted to engage adjacent sides of the pile, said fingers being mounted on said support for movement to a position out of interference with the adjustment of said table.

In testimony whereof I aflix m si nature.

WILLIAM M, E LY. 

